New Delhi, July 25
Ram Nath Kovind, who stepped down on Monday after serving as the 14th President of India, will live in a fully furnished lavish bungalow in Lutyens’ Delhi for the rest of his life with a pension of Rs 2.5 lakh.
The retired chairman is also entitled to one private secretary, one additional private secretary, one personal assistant, two peons, and secretarial staff with office expenses up to Rs 1 lakh per annum.
According to the President’s Emoluments and Pensions Act, 1951, the retired President is entitled to free medical attendance and treatment, and is entitled to travel in the highest class by air, rail or steamer accompanied by a person, anywhere in India.
The President of India earns 5 lakh rupees every month.
A former President, who resigns after the end of his term or resigns, receives a pension at the rate of 50 per cent of the President’s emoluments per month for the rest of his life, as per the Act.
However, if a person has held the office of the Vice-President before assuming the office of the President, he shall not be entitled to any pension and other benefits under the provisions of the Vice President’s Pension Act, 1997.
As per the 1951 Act, a retired President shall, for the rest of his life, be entitled to the use of a furnished accommodation (including its maintenance) without payment of rent, two telephones (one for internet and broadband connectivity), national roaming facility a mobile phone, and a car, or allowance for taking the car.
The law states that if the President dies, or resigns, the President’s spouse is entitled to a retired President’s family pension at the rate of 50 percent for the rest of his life. or leaves office after the expiry of the term.
Spouses are also entitled to free medical care and treatment for the rest of their lives.
Such spouse shall be entitled to use the furnished accommodation (including its maintenance) without payment of license fee.
He is also entitled to a secretarial staff consisting of a private secretary and a peon and office expenses up to Rs 20,000 per annum.
The spouse, largely like the retired President, is entitled to a free telephone and a car, or such car allowance for the rest of his life, and shall be entitled to 12 top class solo travel by air, rail, and is allowed. or steamship, accompanied by a companion or a relative.